Well (best, better, better) (original) (raw)
Irregular inflected forms: best 
, better , better
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):
excavation (a hole in the ground made by excavating)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):
artesian well (a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upward)
driven well; tube well (a well made by driving a tube into the earth to a stratum that bears water)
gas well (a well that yields or has yielded natural gas)
oil well; oiler (a well that yields or has yielded oil)
sump (a well or other hole in which water has collected)
Sense 2
Meaning:
An enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane's landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship's pumps
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):
compartment (a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):
bilge well ((nautical) a well where seepage drains to be pumped away)
pump well (an enclosure in the middle of a ship's hold that protects the ship's pumps)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):
shaft (a vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):
stairwell (a vertical well around which there is a stairway)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):
vessel (an object used as a container (especially for liquids))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "well"):
inkstand; inkwell (a small well holding writing ink into which a pen can be dipped)
Sense 5
Meaning:
An abundant source
Example:
she was a well of information
Synonyms:
fountainhead; well; wellspring
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("well" is a kind of...):
source (a document (or organization) from which information is obtained)
II. (adjective)
Comparative and superlative
Comparative: better
Superlative: best
Sense 1
Meaning:
Wise or advantageous and hence advisable
Example:
it would be well to start early
Classified under:
Similar:
advisable (worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Resulting favorably
Example:
all's well that ends well
Synonyms:
good; well
Classified under:
Similar:
fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)
Sense 3
Meaning:
In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury
Example:
I think I'm well; at least I feel well
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
asymptomatic; symptomless (having no symptoms of illness or disease)
cured; healed; recovered (freed from illness or injury)
Also:
fit (physically and mentally sound or healthy)
healthy (having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease)
Antonym:
ill (affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function)
Derivation:
wellness (a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Come up, as of a liquid
Example:
the currents well up
Synonyms:
swell; well
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "well" is one way to...):
come up; rise; rise up; surface (come to the surface)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
IV. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard ('good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for 'well')
Example:
the baby can walk pretty good
Synonyms:
good; well
Classified under:
Domain usage:
combining form (a bound form used only in compounds)
Antonym:
ill (('ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor
Example:
took the tragic news well
Classified under:
Antonym:
badly (with unusual distress or resentment or regret or emotional display)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Indicating high probability; in all likelihood
Example:
he could equally well be trying to deceive us
Synonyms:
easily; well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 4
Meaning:
Thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form
Example:
well-educated
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 5
Meaning:
Favorably; with approval
Example:
he thought well of the book
Classified under:
Adverbs
Antonym:
ill (unfavorably or with disapproval)
Sense 6
Meaning:
To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree
Example:
his father was well pleased with his grades
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 7
Meaning:
In financial comfort
Example:
she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died
Synonyms:
comfortably; well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 8
Meaning:
In a manner affording benefit or advantage
Example:
The children were settled advantageously in Seattle
Synonyms:
advantageously; well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Antonym:
badly (in a disadvantageous way; to someone's disadvantage)
Sense 9
Meaning:
To a great extent or degree
Example:
the price went up substantially
Synonyms:
considerably; substantially; well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 10
Meaning:
With skill or in a pleasing manner
Example:
he writes well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Antonym:
badly (without skill or in a displeasing manner)
Sense 11
Meaning:
With prudence or propriety
Example:
could not well refuse
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 12
Meaning:
With great or especially intimate knowledge
Example:
we knew them well
Synonyms:
intimately; well
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 13
Meaning:
(used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully
Example:
suspected only too well what might be going on
Classified under:
Adverbs
Domain usage:
intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)
Context examples:
March 11 is one of the best days of the month.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
Well, now, Watson, let us judge the situation by this new information.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Well, well, you did your best,” said Holmes, as we walked into our room.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
What I should have done had all gone well I do not know.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Serve you bloody well right if yer neck was broke!
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
He fought by instinct, but he could fight by head as well.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
And I see that my words have been good in the ears of Bidarshik and that he will grow well again.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
I said I had no doubt that Mr. Peggotty well deserved these treasures.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Well, now I promise you that when I am done with him you shall kiss him at your will. Now go! go!
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Well, you'll know all right when we pull into McGurry.
(White Fang, by Jack London)